Their titles suggested they came from all corners of the globe.
There was an English Flop and a Florida White, a Havana and several Dutch. A Netherland dwarf was in attendance. Of all the possible categories these names might fall under " fish? mixed drinks? politicians? " the fact of the matter is they were rabbits, and they were being measured against the standard of perfection.
Several dozen rabbits were turned, tucked and touted at this year's Rabbit Show at the Franklin County Fair Thursday evening. About 10 people brought their bunnies to be judged " many of them bringing more than one cuddly rodent. The show was divided into three age divisions and open to anyone under 19.
Fair judge Tom Tingle, Shelbyville, was the man who separated the hares from the squares during the show. As he examined each specimen, Tingle compared each rabbit to its species' "standard of perfection," an ideal defined in a book aptly titled Standard of Perfection " Standard Bred Rabbits and Cavies.
Tingle said he looks for certain qualities in texture, fullness, teeth, loins, ears and eyes among other things in each rabbit depending on its breed. After deciding awards for each breed in each division, Judge Tingle then had to pick an overall best bunny for the show.
"It was a tough decision on the top five," Tingle said. "I chose the winner because of its quality of wool. It was closest to the standard of perfection."
The top prize went to one of Emily Keller's seven entries. The Harrodsburg resident posed with her dark-furred Havana and newly won trophy after being declared the owner of the Best of Breeds.
Keller, a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, said she has been showing rabbits for five years and has traveled to several states to compete in shows. She said she has 52 rabbits, but was particularly proud of her latest champion, who hasn't even lived a full year yet.
"She's still a junior," Keller said.
Other award-winning rabbits had a few more life experiences under their belt. Rachel Sipes, a 4-H'er from Shelby County, brought her 2-year-old black and white rabbit, Lucky, to the fair.
Sipes, 11, named the rabbit after she saw the number scribbled on the inside of his ear, lucky number seven. Upon further inspection, however, the number turned out to be a one. The difference was minimal as Lucky claimed his second top prize for his breed in his second competition this summer.
"I'm going to get another Dutch doe just like him," Sipes said, explaining her dream of breeding her bunny and spreading his luck around.
Only one Frankfort resident braved the literal and figurative heat of Thursday's competition, 11-year-old MacKenzie Jones and her bunny, Oreo.
Jones said last year's show with Oreo "didn't go so well," but the bunny received a couple of flattering comments from Judge Tingle about his frontquarters and hindquarters. He may have aspired to higher than second prize had his coat been a little fuller.
"He needs to work on fur conditioning," Jones explained.
Tingle said some of the common indicators of unhealthy hares are runny eyes, snotty noses or crossed ears. Bad teeth or mismatched toenails can get a rabbit disqualified from some events, he said.
Tingle said proper feeding and watering are the keys to raising a good bunny.
"The water is more important than the feed," Tingle said. "It just develops a better rabbit."
Tingle, president of the Kentucky State Rabbit Association, said he has been judging rabbit shows for 14 years. He has been raising the critters since he was a kid in the 1960s and now has a barn stocked with 200 rabbits for show.
Tingle has traveled the country showing rabbits and is preparing for the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention in Louisville this October.
He said he knows many of the people who go to the shows and has developed many friendships through rabbit-raising over the years.
"In judging and showing rabbits, I've met some of the finest people," Tingle said. "It's like I'm at a family reunion."